Last Modified: Thursday, February 14, 2013 at 5:59 p.m.

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Brandon Andrew Garner, a ninth-grader at West Port, was pronounced dead at the accident scene about 1,400 feet west of Marion Oaks Boulevard, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers on scene.

The boy, who lived in Marion Oaks, had been driving home from school. Troopers said his parents, worried that he had not arrived home, came upon the crash site as officials worked there.

Garner's white 2002 Chevy S-10 was heading east in the right lane, according to a trooper on scene. A 2010 Hyundai Elantra was traveling the same direction in the left lane.

Garner apparently lost control of the truck and sideswiped the car. The truck then veered to the south shoulder and off the highway, then struck a medium-sized oak tree. The truck came to rest in the right eastbound lane. Garner was wearing his seatbelt.

Marion County firefighters extricated Garner from the truck, and a paramedic pronounced him dead at 4:25 p.m., according to the FHP.

Troopers said the investigation is ongoing but that speed and the wet roadway may have been factors in the crash.

Antonia Santiago, who was driving the Hyundai, said the truck sideswiped her car, went into the air and hit the tree.

"Oh, my God, I couldn't believe what I was seeing," Santiago said.

Tim Usher was driving a Ford Econoline van the same direction on CR 484. Garner's truck was behind him in the right lane, he said, and cut over to the left lane to pass him. Then it went back to the right lane to pass the Hyundai.

Usher said he saw the driver lose control on the wet road, sideswipe the Hyundai and go off the road. It struck the curb, he said, and went into the air about two feet before hitting the tree head-on.

Usher said he stopped and called 911.

Both Santiago and Usher said Garner was speeding and weaving in and out of traffic. While it is not known how fast Garner was driving, the speed limit on the stretch of roadway on which Garner crashed is 45 mph.

The eastbound lanes were closed for about 2½ hours as troopers investigated the crash.

Of the five traffic fatalities in Marion County so far this year, three of the victims were 17 years old or younger.

<p>MARION OAKS - A 16-year-old West Port High School student died when he lost control of the pickup truck he was driving on County Road 484 on Thursday afternoon.</p><p>Brandon Andrew Garner, a ninth-grader at West Port, was pronounced dead at the accident scene about 1,400 feet west of Marion Oaks Boulevard, according to Florida Highway Patrol troopers on scene.</p><p>The boy, who lived in Marion Oaks, had been driving home from school. Troopers said his parents, worried that he had not arrived home, came upon the crash site as officials worked there.</p><p>Garner's white 2002 Chevy S-10 was heading east in the right lane, according to a trooper on scene. A 2010 Hyundai Elantra was traveling the same direction in the left lane.</p><p>Garner apparently lost control of the truck and sideswiped the car. The truck then veered to the south shoulder and off the highway, then struck a medium-sized oak tree. The truck came to rest in the right eastbound lane. Garner was wearing his seatbelt.</p><p>Marion County firefighters extricated Garner from the truck, and a paramedic pronounced him dead at 4:25 p.m., according to the FHP.</p><p>Troopers said the investigation is ongoing but that speed and the wet roadway may have been factors in the crash.</p><p>Antonia Santiago, who was driving the Hyundai, said the truck sideswiped her car, went into the air and hit the tree.</p><p>"Oh, my God, I couldn't believe what I was seeing," Santiago said.</p><p>Tim Usher was driving a Ford Econoline van the same direction on CR 484. Garner's truck was behind him in the right lane, he said, and cut over to the left lane to pass him. Then it went back to the right lane to pass the Hyundai.</p><p>Usher said he saw the driver lose control on the wet road, sideswipe the Hyundai and go off the road. It struck the curb, he said, and went into the air about two feet before hitting the tree head-on.</p><p>Usher said he stopped and called 911.</p><p>Both Santiago and Usher said Garner was speeding and weaving in and out of traffic. While it is not known how fast Garner was driving, the speed limit on the stretch of roadway on which Garner crashed is 45 mph.</p><p>The eastbound lanes were closed for about 2½ hours as troopers investigated the crash.</p><p>Of the five traffic fatalities in Marion County so far this year, three of the victims were 17 years old or younger.</p>